Wrench



A. B. HEIIVIBACH.

WRENCH.

at y a3 Patented Aug. 2, 1921.

Ill

ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES PATENTl OFFECE.`

ALToN-B. HEIMBACH, or DULUTH, MINNnsoTA.

WRENCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patentea'nug. 2, 1921.

Application filed August 29, 1919. Serial No. 320,631.

ing had therein to the accompanying draw-l ing.

This invention relates to wrenches and has special reference to what may be termed a quickly adjustable wrench-and of a type shown in my co-pending application Serial No. 296,190, filed May 10th, 1919; and former Patent No. 1,142,426, dat-ed June' 8, 1915.

The principal object soughtis to provide an improvement in the art;

Another object is to provide a wrench of this type which will not require manual effort to insure its hold upon an object being turned, such as a nut or the like.

Other objects and advantages of the novel structure will appear in the further description of the invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming part of this application and in which like reference characters represent like parts:

Figure l, is a side elevation of one of my improved wrenches in normal position.

Fig. 2, is a similar view of the wrench showing its appearance when being adjusted.

Fig. 3, is a head end view of Fig. 1, and

Figmi, is a handle end view of same.

1 represents the main body portion or shank of the wrench, it having formed therein a central longitudinally extending slot indicated at 2 and which slot terminates at both ends on anincline, such being illustrated at 8 and 4:. The shank 1 has formed integral therewith a fixed jaw 5 and carries within the slot 2 therein a slidably movable jaw 6, said jaw G having ya central extending portion 7 which tits within the slot 2 oi the body portion. On either side of the slot 2 and upon the jaw side of the shank 1 are formed serrations or teeth indicated at 8 said teeth being inclined and pointed toward the fixed jaw of the wrench. The slidable jaw is of the same width as the shank of the wrench which results in square shoulders thereupon on either side of the central portion 7 and these shoulders are provided with inclined teeth for coperative interlocking engagement with the teeth upon the shank.l It' is evident from the tact that the teeth are inclined backwardly or away from the iiXed jaw, that is, pointing toward the head end of the wrench, that when the movable jaw 6 comes into locked engagement with'jthe shankthere is a slight backward movement thereof after the points of the cooperating teeth pass each other and whenthe wrench has engaged an `object to be turned intermediate of its jaws. Then the slidafble jaw is insuch interlocked position and turning stress is applied to the wrench, it becomes impossible for the mov ablejjaw to slip or release its engagement with the shank, whereas, ifthe `teeth Vwere straight, as employed upon wrenches of somewhat 'like character such holding properties do not exist; thus the inclined teeth become an essential part of my present invention. The fact that there is a slight separation of the jaws as the movable `iaw comes into position is also considered a novel and advantageous feature in that the wrench will not stick to the object engaged and interfere with its quick removal.

The central portion 7 of the movable aw 6 extends slightly above the back of the shank of the wrench and has rigidly iixed thereto, by means of suitable rivets indi- 'cated at 9, a spring handle 10 which extends backwardly substantially horizontally with the body portion of the lwrench to a point approximately even with the rear end of the movable jaw where it .becomes materially reduced in thickness and is bent rather sharply back under itself and toward the back of the wrench extending to a point approximately midway its ends where it is turned at right angles, reduced in width forming shoulders to rest upon the back oi the wrench and extends within the slot 2 where it is thus guided in its longitudinal movement and supported against lateral thrust. This bent and reduced portion of he movable jaw handle is suitably tempered and acts as a spring to hold the jaw normally in locked engagement/.with the shank of the wrench as shown in Fig. 1, and for any adjustment of the jaw 5 the spring end of the handle 10 must be manually compressed as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, when the jaw (S may be adjusted by sliding to any desired position within the predetermined limits thereof.

The handle 10 is preferably the full width point of contact with the extension 7 are formed shoulders indicated at ll-11, which bear upon the back of the wrench and whichy bearing point is a predetermined distance forward of a straight line with the face of.

the movable j aw 6, the object of which is to wholly free the jaw 6 from engagement with' mechanism ofthe wrench'v and that all that. is necessary to accomplish such by the user,` is to .place the thumb of the handwhich is grasping thewrench, upon the spring handle of the movable jaw and slide it to any adjustment desired, when as soon as the pressure of the `thumb is released ythe expansive energy of the lspring handle l0 will vbring the jaw into locked position where it will remain against any pressure put thereupon due to the gripping inclination of the coperatively engaging teeth, as above described.

"Havingthus 'described my invent-ion, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is; v Y

The combination with a wrench comprising ashank having a jaw fixed thereto, a slot within the4 shank,a movable jaw adjustable through lthe slot from the back of the shank, andvcoperatively engageable teeth4 upon the shank and the movable jaw, lof a bearing for said adjustable jaw spaced in advance ofl the Vworking face thereof and a one-piece resilient member rigidly fixed to the adjustable jaw, said resilient member be-A ing bent under and backwardly upon itself the free end thereof beingen'gaged within the slot in the shank to prevent lateral movement thereof. substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aHiX myV signature in the presence of twoV witnesses.

ALTN` HEIIJBACH.

l/Vitnesses: i Y i W. H. vDENHAM7 S. GEO. STEVENS.Y 

